The legend of “la rogativa” or the legend of supplication is a Puerto Rican folk tale that inspires people to pray the way. The word “rogativa” means “prayer” and refers to the practice of religious procession. The legend tells about a time when the city of San Juan, Puerto Rico, was under siege by the British during the 18th century. The Bishop and the townswomen went out at sunset and walked around the city with candles or torches all night long praying for God’s protection. According to the legend, the military fleet thought that all those people were Puerto Rican troop reinforcements to defend the city and decided to sail away from the island.